Airship.



A. SCHAD & E. SEIDEL.

AIRSHIP.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 7, I913.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. SCHAD & E. SEIDEL.

AIRSHIP.

. APPLICATION FILED OCT. 7, 1913 L1 35,%9 Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

2 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

avwwtoz ADOL F SCHAD AND EIVIIL SEIDEL, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

an ornibn.

AIRSHIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented a is, rare.

Application filed October 7, 1913. Serial No. 793,844.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, ADoLr SCI-IAD and EMIL SEIDEL, application for citizens papers pending, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Airships; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to air ships of the dirigible balloon type, and particularly to air ships of the rigid balloon species, in which the aerostat is formed of a frame having an outer envelop or covering and designed to contain a balloon proper, preferably consisting of a series of inflatable bags.

One object of the present invention is to provide an air ship of the rigid dirigible type which embodies a novel construction of aerostat framing, whereby maximum strength, durability and rigidity with lightness of weight are obtained.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel mode of mounting the driving propellers and their actuating motors. A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel construction and arrangement of horizontal rudders, whereby increased efficiency is secured.

The invention consists of the features'of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which fl Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially broken away and in section, of an air ship constructed in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same; Fig. 3 is an elvational view of one of the circular frame elements or hoops of the aerostat frame; Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line 44 in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detail vertical transverse section on the line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of one of the longitudinal frame members or girders of the aerostat frame; and Fig. 7 is a detail section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

In carryingour invention into practice we provide an aerostat 1, to the frame of which is secured a car 2, of suitable construction and dimensions to form quarters for the pilot, crew and passengers, and to contain 5 stores of fuel, provisions, etc.

frame elements being united in any suitable staunch and durable manner. In addition, the said frame elements 3 and 4 are rigidly tied and braced by suitable stays 5, consisting of diagonally crossed strands of wire or other suitable material. The aerostat frame has a covering 6, either of. fabric or thin sheet metal, and incloses the balloon proper 7, which may consist of any desired form and arrangement of inflatable bags or sections.

The annular transverse frame members or hoops 3, one of which is shown in detail in Fig. 3, are of novel construction. As shown, each of the said frame elements comprises spaced inner and outer rings or bands 8 and 9 united in spaced relation by an interposed bracing 10. The rings or bands are each made of some light, strong and durable metal, each provided with a central reinforcing crimp or bead 11, designed'to give maximum strength and rigidity thereto and to obviate any liability, under ordinary conditions, of the parts bending or buckling under strain. As shown, the reinforcement 10 is of the zigzag type, preferably consisting of a single continuous strip of light and thin, but strong, sheet metal bent into shape and riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the rings or bands, one or more series of zigzag reinforcing strips being interposed between the rings 8 and 9. The ring 8 is internally strengthened by vertical, horizontal and diagonal stay rods or wires 12, 13 and 14 arranged in crossed relation and suitably secured to said ring so as to take up and uniformly distribute and withstand all the strains imposed thereon.

By the construction described an annular frame member or hoop which is light in weight and yet of great strength and durability is produced.

Each of the longitudinal frame members or girders 4 comprises a pair of parallel metallic bars or strips 15 and 16 connected by a lattice work arrangement of stay strips 17 ofsimilar material riveted or otherwise secured thereto each of the said longitudinal strips 15 being also provided with a central reinforcing bead 18 by which any tendency of the strips to bend or buckle under :strain is obviated, so that the transverse frame elements or hoops will be rigidly united and sustained against deflection. At the rear of the aerostat is provided a suitable supporting bracket 19 pivotally supporting pne or more vertical rudders 20 from which operating connections 21 lead to suitable controlling means in the car 2. Along the stern end of the aerostat are provided longitudinal horizontal stability fins 22 reinforced by suitable stays 23. At each side of the ship, in front and rear of the transverse center thereof, are arranged series of horizontal rudders 23, the rudders of each set being arranged in superposed relation and pivoted at their outer ends to a suitable bracket 24 and at their inner ends to a stepped bracket 25. The rudders of each set are connected for movement in unison by sets of links 26 receiving motion from front and rear horizontal arms 27 on a rock shaft 28, to which are secured vertically disposed upwardly and downwardly projecting crank arms 29, from which controlling wires or cables 30.1ead to a controlling device or de vices within the car, the arrangement of the steering gear being preferably such that in operation the sets of rudders will be simultaneously adjusted to like degrees in the proper directions to steer the ship in a vertical plane. The said bracket 25 extends aro d that portion of the curved side of the aerostat between the adjacent side of the car 2 and the longitudinal center of the aerostat, and is step ed to provide for a proper mounting of t e rudders which pro- -gressively lncrease in width or transverse extent downwardly, thus enabling a maximum amount of rudder surface to be pre-.

sented to the action of the wind for steering effect. At each side of the ship are arranged front and rear tractor propellers 31,- each mounted'direct-ly upon the shaft of a revolving motor 32 carried by a supporting bracket or outrigger 33 suitably fixed to the car and frame of the aerostat, thus setting off the motors from the side of the aerostat so that they may operate without danger to the latter and at a sufficient elevation to bring them substantially in the longitudinal line of the center of weight to exert a maximum thrust pressure and driving action. The motors may be supplied with fuel from suitable sources arranged within the car 2'.

Having thus described our invention, we.

claim:

1. An air ship of the rigid dirigible balloon type including an aerostat formed of a balloon-inclosing frame and an outer cover-- ing, sald frame consistlng of annular transverse and longitudinal frame elements rigidly tied and braced, each of said frame ele- -ments'cons isting of spaced frame members having reinforcing crimps, said frame members being connected by an interposed diag onal bracing.

2. In an air ship of the character described, a transverse frame element for an aerostat comprising inner and outer rings each having a reinforcing head, diagonal braces between said rings, and sets of crossed vertical, horizontal and diagonal reinforcing rods connecting portions of the inner ring at points around the periphery thereof. In testimony'whereof we a x our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ADOLF SCI-IAD. EMIL SEIDEL.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH REINHARDT, H. GRoNBAcH, Jr. 

